Ultra ride

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Dec 25, 2006 | 04:32 PM

woodeyewetzel

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 326

Likes: 0

From: Kenner, La.

Ultra ride

Could one of you Bros tell me what is the best way to soften the ride on my Ultra. The front end bottoms out all the time here. The roads are bad here and I am getting to the point there I hate to ride.

Dec 25, 2006 | 04:33 PM

electaRICK

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 10,920

Likes: 6

From: Upstate New York

RE: Ultra ride

if your bottoming all the time you are to soft

Dec 25, 2006 | 04:39 PM

woodeyewetzel

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 326

Likes: 0

From: Kenner, La.

RE: Ultra ride

How do I change that.

Dec 25, 2006 | 04:40 PM

Panhead_1_9_4_8

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 3,934

Likes: 2

From: Reading, PA

RE: Ultra ride

How old is your bike? What kind of weight do you carry? Progressive makes springs that will replace the stock ones. Have you checked for seal leaks? Are you sure you have fork oil? Take it to a reputable shop unless you know what you are doing yourself.

Dec 25, 2006 | 05:37 PM

woodeyewetzel

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 326

Likes: 0

From: Kenner, La.

RE: Ultra ride

It;'s an 05 with 13000 miles. No leaks

Dec 25, 2006 | 05:51 PM

toolbox

Road Master

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 850

Likes: 1

From: Oklahoma

RE: Ultra ride

Start by checking everything over---Are you sure its the front bottoming out and not the back? Like the others said, your suspension is too soft. Have you checked your fork oil---heck-just change it-- 20 weight seems to work well for me in Oklahoma--the roads are pretty bad here too. I run 9-11 ounces in each fork (check your manual)---and run anywhere from 8-15 lbs of air in the rear --while solo----Goodluck.
TOOLBOX

[IMG]local://upfiles/11196/98ED0FA13F16427AB0D3416653E082D4.jpg[/IMG]

Dec 26, 2006 | 12:10 PM

sanaga

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 589

Likes: 0

From: indonesia

RE: Ultra ride

Quote:

ORIGINAL: toolbox

Start by checking everything over---Are you sure its the front bottoming out and not the back? Like the others said, your suspension is too soft. Have you checked your fork oil---heck-just change it-- 20 weight seems to work well for me in Oklahoma--the roads are pretty bad here too. I run 9-11 ounces in each fork (check your manual)---and run anywhere from 8-15 lbs of air in the rear --while solo----Goodluck.
TOOLBOX

[IMG]local://upfiles/11196/98ED0FA13F16427AB0D3416653E082D4.jpg[/IMG]

hey toolbox...i like your flhr with ape hanger...very nice....im interested to buy an ape hanger bar....tell me is it sore ride long with that bar???
with ape hanger , hows the air turbulence...? is it affected or not??

sorry for hijack the thread...

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Dec 26, 2006 | 03:01 PM

tphillips

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 1,355

Likes: 32

From: Houston, Texas

RE: Ultra ride

I, too, have an '05 -- but have 17K on it. In order to diagnose whether it is the fronts or rears you are experiencing as "bottoming out," I have this simple -- and free -- suggestion: Pump up the rear shocks to about 12-15 lbs. of air and then ride the roads you have previously experienced this problem with. If you are no longer bottoming out -- then it is the rears you are feeling and not the fronts. The fronts are not adjustable, and I would be surprised if they are ready for full oil replacement. That isn't called for much before 20K miles.

What I find is that the rear shocks are very susceptible to pressure changes depending on the ambient air temperature. I can start a ride at 40 degrees and 12 lbs. of pressure in the rears, then by 2:00 p.m. that day and 65 degrees, the air pressure now registers 20 lbs. AND I FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.

Give the simple diagnostic test a try. If you are still feeling the "bottoming out" feeling from the front, have it checked.

Hope that helps!